Game Story: Minnesota Wild 2, Calgary Flames 1 (SO)

Herald&#8217;s three stars go to Suter, Backstrom and Hudler

Minnesota’s Ryan Suter, right, and Niklas Backstrom were named the top two stars of the game against the Calgary Flames on Monday night.

Photograph by: Derek Leung, Getty Images

THE THREE STARS

1. Ryan Suter, Wild: Logs a ton of ice time and in a decidedly lacklustre affair adds a little professional sparkle.

2. Niklas Backstrom, Wild: Stops 23 in regulation/OT and two more in the shootout.

3. Jiri Hudler, Flames: The game-tying goal and a lovely SO deke.

WHY THE FLAMES LOST

Because after an admittedly lacklustre final two periods in Vancouver, they weren’t much more emotionally involved in this one, either. Oh, and in case you hadn’t heard, they’re awful at shootouts.

THE BIG SAVE

Minny puck-repeller Niklas Backstrom flashes the mitt as Flames’ Ben Street, playing his second game with the big club, slides out of the corner in the second period and rips a shot intended for the top left-hand corner.

THE BIG HIT

Not four minutes into the first period, Flames’ D Cory Sarich, obviously a touch grumpy after four games of enforced idleness, bulldozes 6-foot-5, 215-pound Wild D-man Justin Falk along the half-boards.

Minnesota’s Ryan Suter, right, and Niklas Backstrom were named the top two stars of the game against the Calgary Flames on Monday night.

Photograph by: Derek Leung, Getty Images

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